SBBK Workshop: Summer Pine Decandling

SBBK First Tuesday

2 Jun 2026 (Valerie Monroe)

Pines decandling (red & black)

Goal:

To develop shorter needles and back bud.

When?

  • Dependent on climate (foggy or cooler), new buds will develop slower.

  • Decandle earlier for slower development.

  • Warmer climate and sunny, so it later.

  • End of May to mid-July.

  • Size & more branches.

  • Start w big trees and end with smaller trees.

  • Start with weak trees and end with strong trees & strength of your tree.

Can progressively remove weak buds one week, medium a week later, and strong candles the following week.

Alt: Some cut strongest first but leaving a long neck “peg” (no needles), and middle half way and weak buds remove at the base. <does not work>

Wait one month after decandling To fertilize, to avoid large aggressive growth.

New buds come out in mid Aug.

Leave alone until Nov to Feb to thin needles.

  • Decandle to remove ALL of this year’s growth .

  • If over weeks start w weaker buds to let them catch up after decandling older buds

  • Or if decandle all at once, then leave the stronger buds 1/8 or so longer—taking it 2 weeks or so to die off then start bifurcating—so like a fuse it will take longer.

Michael Wei